Explosive swaging device for mooring a submerged mine



. Jan. 16, 1962 c. F. BOWERSETT 3,0 3

EXPLOSIVE SWAGING DEVICE FOR MOORING A SUBMERGED MINE Filed April 29,1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.1.

INVENTOR CHARLES E BOWERSETT i 15034 I BY M.

ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1962 c. F. BOWERSETT 3,016,828

EXPLOSIVE SWAGING DEVICE FOR MOORING A SUBMERGED MINE Filed April 29,1952 FICA.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CHARLES F. BOWERSETT ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent Office 3,16,828 Patented Jan. 16, 1962 EXPLOSIVE SWAGING DEVICEFGR MOQG A SUBMERGED WE Charles F. Bowersett, Laurel, Md, assignor tothe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyFiled Apr. 29, 1952, Ser. No. 285,040

9 Claims. (Cl. 10213) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1252), sec.266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by orfor the Government of the United States of America for governmentalpurposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a submerged moored mine and more particularlyto an explosive swaging device for gripping the mooring cable thereof insuch a manner as to prevent further paying out of the cable when apredetermined amount thereof has been payed out corresponding to thenumber of magnetic signals received from the cable by a magneticmeasuring device in accordance with a preselected setting thereof.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a moored mine which comprises afloatation chamber releasably connected to an anchor device and adaptedto be released therefrom at the expiration of a predetermined period oftime by a suitable explosive actuated release device whereupon thefloatation chamber will ascend toward the surface of the body of waterand upon rising to a preselected depth of submergence the swagingmechanism of the present invention is functioned to grip or clutch thecable and prevent further paying out thereof and thus moor the mine atthe desired depth of submergence within the body of water in which themine has been planted. Such action is controlled by a suitable 'magneticinduction metering device and pick-up coil operatively connected theretoand adapted to function to initiate the explosive actuated device when apredetermined amount of the cable has been payed out and a predeterminednumber of magnetic signals are picked up by the coil as the cable uponwhich the magnetic signature is impressed passes therethrough during theascent of the floatation chamber after the chamber has been releasedfrom the anchor.

Heretoforc, moored mine employed mechanical linkages and hydrostaticdevices for. measuring and controlling the paying out of the mooringcable as the mine is planted on the bed of a body of water, wherein thecable is stowed on a normally locked reel or drum rotatably supportedwithin the mine anchor and adapted to be released as the mechanical orhydrostatic devices are functioned, as the case may be whereupon thecable is payed out when the floatation chamber and anchor separate andthe floatation chamber ascends toward the surface of the body of water.The aforesaid devices are adapted to lock the drum or reel and preventfurther paying out of the cable when the floatation chamber ascends to apreselected depth after release thereof from the anchor. Such deviceshave not proven entirely satisfactory for the reason that all the movingcomponents thereof are exposed to the sea water when the mine is plantedin the body of water and thus subjecting the mechanical release andpawling devices to failure due to corrosion after the anchor has beensubmerged for a comparatively short period of time. Furthermore, suchdevices are bulky, costly, and occasionally inaccurate dueto the defectsin the mechanical releasing and pawling arrangement thereof.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is the provision of anew and improved mine anchoring arrangement which is devoid of cablereels and mechanical controlled releasing and pawling devices and whichis small in size, economical to manufacture and possesses all thequalities of ruggedness and durability during handling andtransportation and in which an explosive swaging device is employed tostop the paying out of the mooring cable when the swaging device isactuated in response to an explosive force receivedthereby.

Another object is to provide a novel and effective explosive device foranchoring a floatation chamber at a preselected depth of submergenceafter the floatation chamber is released from an anchor member.

A further object is to provide a new and improved mine anchoring systemwherein an explosive swaging device is functioned to grip the mooringcable in such a manner as to prevent further paying out thereof when apredetermined amount of cable has been payed out and a predeterminedpcriod of time has elapsed after the mine has been planted on a bed of abody of water.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved mooring system fora mine in which a magnetic induction controlled metering devicefunctions to initiate an explosive type cable gripping device when apredetermined number of magnetic signals have been received therebyOther objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a mine partially broken away and havingseveral units assembled in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the swaging device in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view of the gripping sleeve in a deformedcondition and illustrating the manner in which the mooring cable isgripped thereby.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 there isshown a submarine mine generally indicated by the reference character 10and comprising an anchor 11 and a floatation member or mine casing 12releasably secured to the anchor and adapted to be released therefrom apredetermined period of time after the mine has been planted on a bed ofa body of water.

The anchor comprises a casing 13 having secured thereto a suitablemagnetic metering device 14 such, for example, as a type similar to thatdisclosed and claimed in the copending application of Leon 1. Lofthus,titled Magnetic Cable Measuring Device, Serial No. 285,039, and filedApril 29, 1952.

Secured to the measuring device 14 by bolts 15 is an explosive clutchingor gripping device generally indicated by the numeral 16 comprising acasing 17 con sisting of a substantially U-shaped member 18 and asupport or end wall 19 arranged in the open end of the U-shaped memberand secured thereto by a plurality of bolts 21. The end Wall 19 isprovided with a threaded nipple 22 and a bore 23 which extendstherethrough, the nipple having threaded engagement with a magazinegenerally indicated by the numeral 24.

The magazine comprises a casing 25 having a'threaded bore 26 formedtherein in threaded engagement with the nipple 19 and thus by thisarrangement the magazinc is supported on the end wall 19 in alignmentwith the bore 23, FIG. 4. The casing 25 is provided with a counterboreor explosive chamber 27 bordering on the bore 26 and having an explosivecharge 28 arranged therein, the charge being maintained within thechamber 27 by a frangible diaphragm 29. As shown on FIG. 4 the diaphragmcomprises a cup-shaped member 31 in abutting engagement with the charge28 and a flange 32 in abutting engagement with a shoulder 33 formed onthe casing, the flange being maintained in abutting relation with theshoulder 33 by a retaining nut 34. By this arrangement the charge 28 ismaintained sealed and confined within the bore 27.

As more clearly shown on FIG. a threaded bore 35 is formed in themagazine 24 at a right angle with respect to the bore 27 and incommunication therewith. Threaded into the bore 35 is a detonator holder36 comprising a casing 37 having a bore 38 extending substantiallytherethrough in which is arranged an electroresponsive detonator 39, thedetonator being provided with a pair of leads 41 extending through anaperture 42 formed in the casing 37 thereby to provide an externalelectrical connection to the detonator.

The gripping device 16 is provided with an end wall or fixed jaw 43having a substantially semicircular recess 44 formed therein andextending the full length thereof, the wall defining the recess having aplurality of grooves 45 formed therein thereby to provide a plurality ofanvils 46 therebetween, the purpose of which will be hereinafter morefully described.

As more clearly shown on FIG. 4 a clamp or jaw 47 is slideably arrangedwithin the member 19 by reason of a plunger 43 formed thereon andmovably disposed within the bore 23 arranged in the member 19, theplunger being in alignment with the explosive charge 28 and adapted tobe moved in response to the force of the explosion as the charge isfired by the detonator. The jaw 47 is provided with a substantiallysemicircular recess 49 extending the full length thereof, the walldefining the recess having a plurality of grooves 51 formed thereinwhereupon a plurality of anvils or ridges 52 are formed therebetween,the anvils 51 being adapted to coact with the anvils 46 on thestationary jaw 43 when the movable jaw 47 is moved toward the stationaryjaw.

As shown more clearly on FIG. 4 a crushable sleeve generally indicatedby the numeral 53 and comprising an elongated tubular member 54 and aflange 55 is disposed between the jaws 43 and 47, the tubular member 54being in alignment with the recesses 44 and 49 and the flange 55 restingon the jaws 43 and 47.

Secured to the upper end portion of the jaw 47 as by bolts or screws 56is a yoke 57 having an elongated opening formed therein in which isarranged the flange 55 and secured to the lower end portion thereof asby bolts or screws 58 is a yoke 59 having an elongated slot formedtherein in which is arranged the end portion of the tubular member 54.The malleable sleeve 53 is maintained between the jaws 43 and 49 andlocked in alignment with the recesses 44 and 49 by a pair of set screws61 threaded into the yoke 57 and into clamping engagement with theflange 55 and a pair of set screws 62 threaded into the yoke 59 and intoclamping engagement with the tubular member 54.

As shown on FIG. 1 a cable dispenser 63 is disposed within the anchorcasing 13, the dispenser being secured thereto in any suitable mannersuch, for example, as by bolts or screws. Stowed within the dispenser isa suitable length of mooring cable 64, the cable having a magneticsignal impressed along the length thereof, the purpose of which will bemore clearly apparent as the description proceeds. The cable is trainedover a plurality of rollers 65, through the pick up coil 66 and thecrushable sleeve 53 and thence through a conventional fairlead 67, theend thereof being secured to the floatation chamber or mine casing 12 asat 68.

As shown on FIG. 1 the floatation chamber and anchor are initiallylocked together by the conventional link 71 and an explosive link device72. It will be understood, however, that when the mine is launched andsinks to the bed of a body of water, the floatation chamber and anchorwill remain locked together for a predetermined period of time, suchtime delay period being controlled by a conventional clock mechanism orany other suitable time delay device. However, at the expiration of thetime delay period the clock will initiate firing of the explosive linkdevice 72. When this occurs the link 72 is blown from the anchor casingand releases the floatation chamber for movement to plumb or verticalsuch movement being suflicient to detach the link 71 from the floatationchamber and thus the anchor and floatation chamber are separated. Uponrelease of the floatation chamber it will ascend toward the surface ofthe body of water and thus in response to the upward movement thereofthe magnetized mooring cable 64 is payed out from the dispenser 63 andpulled through the pick up coil 66 and the swaging sleeve 53. Paying outof the cable will continue until a predetermined number of signals havebeen received through the pick up coil 66 correspondingly to the presetmooring depth at which the metering device is set. When this occurs afiring circuit is completed to the detonator 39 by way of conductors orleads 41 in any suitable manner such, for example, as by the arrangementdisclosed in the aforesaid copending application of Leon J. Lofthus. Theexplosive charge 28 arranged within the explosive chamber 27 is fired bythe detonator as the detonator is initiated. As the explosive charge 28is fired within the explosive chamber 27 the explosive force therefromforcibly drives the plunger 48 a sufficient amount to cause the anvilsor ridges 46 and 52 on the movable and fixed jaws to forcibly engage andbite into the malleable sleeve 53 and thus swage the sleeve onto thecable, FIG. 6. Such swaging of the sleeve to the cable prevents furtherpaying out thereof, whereupon the mine or floatation chamber is mooredat the desired depth of submergence corresponding to the preselectedmooring depth at which the measuring device is set.

As shown on FIG. 1 a cartridge type cable dispenser 73 is disposedwithin and secured to the anchor 13. Stowed within the dispenser is asuitable length of plum met cable74 having a magnetic signature alongthe length thereof, the cable being trained about the aforesaid rollers65, through a pick up coil 75 similar to the coil 66 operativelyconnected to the measuring device 14 and having the free end thereofsecured to a plummet 69 as at 77. The plummet is releasably maintainedwithin the anchor 13 by a suitable mechanism 78, however, when the mineis launched the plummet is released as the mechanism 78 is actuated to arelease position. Thus as the plummet sinks the plummet cable is pulledthrough the pick up coil 75. The magnetic signature impressed on thecable and picked up by the coil 75 as the cable is pulled therethroughwill function the measuring device and thus measure the depth of waterduring the sinking of the plummet to the bed of the body of water. Thefloatation chamber and anchor attached thereto will then sink to the bedof the body of water and at the expiration of a predetermined period oftime controlled by a conventional clock mechanism included in themeasuring circuit the clock will function and initiate firing of theexplosive link 72. When this occurs the floatation chamber and anchorare separated and the floatation chamber ascends toward the surface ofthe body of Water whereupon the mooring cable 64 having the magneticsignature thereon is pulled through the pick up coil 66. When the cablehas been payed out a predetermined amount corresponding to the number ofmagnetic signals received in accordance with the preselected setting ofthe measuring device, the explosive swaging device 16 through which themooring cable has also been paying out is actuated to sw'age themalleable sleeve 53 onto the cable as the explosive charge 28 is firedby the detonator 39 and thus locking the cable and preventing furtherpaying out thereof whereupon the floatation chamber is moored at apredetermined depth beneath the surface of the body of water.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a new andimproved explosive swaging device has been devised wherein meansresponsive to an explosive force applied thereto grips and locks themooring cable of a submarine mine and prevents further paying outthereof when a predetermined amount of the cable has been payed outcorresponding to the number of magnetic signals received from the cableby a magnetic measuring device in accordance with a preselected settingthereof.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letter Patent of theUnited States is:

1. An explosive swaging device for a submerged mine having a floatationchamber separable from an anchor and secured thereto by a mooring cablecomprising a casing, an elongated deformable sleeve supported on saidcasing through which said cable is payed out'as the floatation chamberis separated from said anchor and ascends toward the surface of a bodyof water, means including a movable member having a plurality of anvilsformed thereon for swaging said deformable sleeve onto said cable andmooring said floatation chamber at a predetermined depth beneath thesurface of said water as said anvils are forcibly driven into engagementwith said deformable sleeve in response to an explosive force applied tosaid member, and explosive means for applying said force to said movablemember as the explosive means is fired.

2. An explosive swaging device for a submerged mine having a floatationchamber separable from an anchor and secured thereto by a mooring cablecomprising a casing, an elongated deformable sleeve supported on saidcasing through which said cable is payed out as the floatation chamberis separated from said anchor and ascends toward the surface of a bodyof water, means movably arranged within said casing and having aplurality of anvils formed thereon for swaging said deformable sleeveonto said cable and mooring said floatation chamber at a predetermineddepth beneath the surface of said water as the anvils are forcibly movedinto engagement with said deformable sleeve in response to an explosiveforce applied to said movable means, and explosive means disposed withinsaid casing in substantial abutting engagement with said movable meansfor applying said force thereto as the explosive means is fired.

3. An explosive swaging device for a submerged mine having a floatationchamber separable from an anchor and secured theretoby a mooring cablecamprising a casing, a fixed jaw arranged on said csing, a movable .jawsupported within the casing and moved a predetermined amount in responseto an explosive force applied thereto, explosive means disposed withinthe casing in proximate spaced relation with respect to said movable jawfor applying said force thereto as the explosive means is fired, adeformable sleeve supported between said jaws through which said cableis payed out as the floatation chamber is separated from said anchor andascends toward the surface of a body of water in which the mine isplanted, and means on said jaws for swaging said sleeve onto said cableas the movable jaw is moved said predetermined amount thereby to moorsaid floatation chamber at a predetermined depth beneath the surface ofsaid water.

4. An explosive swaging device for a submerged mine having a floatationchamber separable from an anchor and secured thereto by a mooring cablecomprising a casing, a movable jaw supported'within the casing andadapted to be moved a predetermined amount in re sponse to an explosiveforce applied thereto, explosive means disposed within the casing inproximate spaced relation with respect to said movable jaw for applyingsaid force thereto as the explosive means is fired, means responsive toan electrical impulse for firing said explosive means, a malleablesleeve supported between said jaws through which said cable is payed outas the floatation chamber is separated from said anchor and ascendstoward the surface of a body of water in which the mine is planted, andanvil means on said jaws adapted to be forcibly driven into engagementwith said sleeve as the movable jaw is moved said predetermined amountfor swaging the sleeve onto the cable thereby to moor said floatationchamber at a predetermined depth beneath the surface of said water.

5. An explosive swaging device for a submerged mine having a floatationchamber separable from an anchor 'and secured thereto by a mooring cablecomprising a casing, a stationary jaw forming a part of said casing, amovable jaw supported within the casing and movable a predeterminedamount in response to an explosive force applied thereto, a magazinesecured to said casing in alignment with said movable jaw, an explosivecharge disposed within said magazine in proximate space relation withrespect to said movable jaw for applying said force thereto as theexplosive means is fired, an electro responsive detonator secured tosaid magazine and fired in response to an electrical impulse receivedthereby for firing said explosive charge, a malleable sleeve supported 1between said jaws through which said cable is payed out as thefloatation chamber is separated from said anchor and ascends toward thesurface of a body of water in which the mine is planted, anvil means onsaid stationary jaw, complementary anvil means on said movable jaw andadapted to coact with said anvil means on said stationary jaw forswaging the sleeve onto the cable as said movable jaw is moved saidpredetermined amount thereby to moor the floatation chamber at apredetermined depth beneath the surface of said body of water.

6. An explosive swaging device for a submerged mine having a floatationchamberseparable from an anchor and secured thereto by a mooring cablecomprising a casing, a stationary jaw forming a part of said casing, amovable jaw supported Within the casing, a plunger secured to saidmovable jaw and slideably arranged within the casing for moving themovable jaw a predetermined amount in response to an explosive forceapplied thereto, explosive means arranged Within said casing inalignment with said plunger for applying said force thereto as theexplosive means is fired, means fortfiring said explo sive means, amalleable sleeve supported between said jaws through which said cable ispayed out as the floatation chamber is separated from the anchor andascends toward the surface of the body of water in which the mine isplanted, and anvil mean on said jaws forcibly driven into engagementwith said malleable sleeve as the movable jaw is moved saidpredetermined amount by said plunger for swaging the sleeve onto thecable thereby to prevent further paying out of the cable and moor thefloatation chamber at a predetermined depth beneath the surface of thebody of water.

7. In a locking device of the class described, in combination, ananchor, a floatation chamber separable from said anchor after the minehas been planted and rests on the bed of a body of water for apredetermined period of time, a mooring cable having a magneticsignature impressed thereon and connecting said floatation chamber tosaid anchor and adapted to be payed out as the floatation chamber isreleased from the anchor and ascends toward the surface of said water,releasing means for said floatation chamber, means including a magneticmeasuring device settable at will to different settings and responsiveto the paying out of said cable for controlling the amount of cable tobe payed out corresponding to the number of magnetic signals receivedthereby in accordance with a selected setting, and means including anexplosive device operatively connected to said measuring device andactuated thereby when a predetermined number of said signals have beenreceived by said 7 measuring device for locking the cable and preventingfurther paying out thereof'thereby to moor the floatation chamber at apredetermined depth beneath the surface of the water.

8. In a locking device of the class described, in combination, ananchor, a floatation chamber separable from said anchor after the minehas been planted and rests on the bed of a body of water for apredetermined period Of time, a mooring cable havin a magnetic signatureimpressed thereon and connecting said floatation chamber to said anchorand adapted to be payed out as the floatation chamber is released fromthe anchor and ascends toward the surface of said water, releasing meansfor said floatation chamber, means including a magnetic measuring devicesettable at will to different settings and responsive to the paying outof said cable for controlling the amount of cable to be payed outcorresponding to the number of magnetic signals received thereby inaccordance with a selected setting of the measuring device, a casing,deformable means secured to said casing and through which the cable ispayed out as the floatation chamber ascends, means including a movablemember arranged within said casing for swaging said deformable meansonto said cable as the movable member is forcibly driven into engagementwith said deformable means in response to an explosive force appliedthereto, said deformable means locking the cable and mooring thefloatation chamber at a predetermined depth beneath the surface of thewater in accordance with said selected setting, and means including anelectroresponsive detonator operatively connected to said measuringdevice and fired in response to an electrical impulse received therebyas the measuring device is actuated to said selected setting forapplying said force to said movable member.

9. in an explosive swaging device of the class described, incombination, an anchor, at floatation chamber separable from said anchorafter the mine has been planted and rests on the bed of a body of waterfor a predetermined period of time, a mooring cable stowed within saidanchor and having a magnetic signature impressed thereon, said cableconnecting the floatation chamber to the anchor and adapted to be payedout therefrom as the floatation chamber is released from said anchor andascends toward the surface of said water, releasing means for saidfloatation chamber, means including a magnetic measuring device settableat will to different settings and responsive to the paying out of saidcable for controlling the amount of cable to bepayed out correspondingto the number of magnetic signals received thereby in accordance with aselected setting, a casing, a fixed jaw forming a part of said casing, amovable jaw supported within the casing, a plunger secured to saidmovable jaw and slideably arranged within said casing for moving themovable jaw a predetermined amount in response to an explosive forceapplied thereto, explosive means arranged Within said casing inalignment with said plunger for applying said force thereto as theexplosive means is fired, an electroresponsive detonator arranged Withinthe casing and operatively connected to said measuring device and firedin response to an electrical impulse received thereby as the measuringdevice is actuated to said selected setting for firing said explosivemeans, 2. malleable sleeve supported between said jaws through whichsaid cable is payed out as the floatation chamber ascends, and anvilmeans on said jaws adapted to be forcibly driven into engagement withsaid malleable sleeve as the movable jaw is moved said predeterminedamount by said plunger for swaging the sleeve onto the cable thereby toprevent further paying out of the cable and moor the floatation chamberat a predetermined depth beneath the surface of the body of water.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,023,832 Gabriel Apr. 23, 1912 FOREIGN PATENTS 320,878 Italy Sept. 12,1934 wanna-Qt.)-

